The spectrum of allergenic pollens in Italy A computerized method of aerobiological monitoring

The monitoring of airborne pollens that provoke allergy is of interest to clinicians to enable them to correlate chronologically the relationship between pollen concentrations in the atmosphere and the symptoms of patients with pollen‐related allergies. In Italy there are now 60 centres for monitoring airborne allergenic pollens, the data from which arc compiled and filed using software developed by the Italian Association of Aerobiology (AIA) and run on personal computers. These data are then fed into a central data bank to which all centres have access. This information system makes it possible to achieve the following objectives: 1) to standardise monitoring methods, 2) to recognise varieties of pollen that cause allergies, 3) to improve the exchange and comparison of information among operators by compiling the results in graphs, and 4) to notify clinicians about atmospheric concentrations of allergenic pollens so that improved therapy can be provided.